South Carolina Hit & Run LawyersA hit-and-run can be one of the most devastating types of car wrecks. In addition to the catastrophic physical injuries an accident can cause, victims are often left with a sense of betrayal by the irresponsible driver who refused to stop. The federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says hit-and-runs make up more than 10% of all accidents -- and they've gone up by 15% since 2000. The agency has also found that vulnerable pedestrians are disproportionately the victims of hit-and-runs; such crashes cause a fifth of all pedestrian deaths. Research shows that chronic drunk drivers, uninsured drivers, undocumented immigrants who don't qualify for a driver's license and drivers who have had their licenses revoked are all strongly associated with hit-and-runs. If you or someone you care about has been the victim of a hit-and-run accident, contact the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656 for a free evaluation of your case. South Carolina law and basic decency require that motorists stop after an accident -- even after hitting a parked car -- report the accident, and call for medical help for anyone who needs it. But when the accident caused a death or serious bodily injury, not stopping is a felony punishable with steep fines and jail time. It can also make things very expensive for victims -- when a driver refuses to stop, it's impossible to take down his or her insurance information. South Carolina drivers are required to carry uninsured / underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage, which should cover a hit-and-run accident. But insurers, eager to save money by denying claims, don't always honor that coverage for hit-and-runs, requiring victims to negotiate through corporate red tape while bills pile up. Furthermore, the damage a hit-and-run driver causes may far exceed the victim's amount of UIM coverage, which means victims get stuck with the bills for most of the damage. Law enforcement may be able to identify the car or the driver that caused a hit-and-run accident. Unfortunately, criminal prosecution often requires an eyewitness showing that the car's owner was the driver -- a tall order when the driver was speeding away at 40 miles per hour. Because the statute of limitations starts running from the day of the accident, not the day when the person who caused it is identified, some victims are denied justice by the criminal justice system. And some hit-and-run drivers flee because they have illegally chosen to carry no insurance at all. For these reasons, many victims and their families turn to the civil courts to punish a hit-and-run driver. Regardless of whether hit-and-run drivers are criminally prosecuted, victims and their families have the right to take them to civil court as well. If you or someone you care about was hurt by a hit-and-run driver, you should speak with the experienced auto accident attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible. We have recovered millions for South Carolinians injured in hit-and-run wrecks and other accidents caused by someone else's irresponsibility. We are committed to providing personalized service to our clients while aggressively pressing their cases in court. For a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case, call the Louthian Law Firm today at 1-866-410-5656 or fill out our confidential case evaluation form online. For additional information on vehicle accidents, please browse our website: Columbia SC Hit & Run Injury Lawyer Disclaimer: The hit and run accident, motor vehicle accident, hit and run injury, or other legal personal injury information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Further communication with our attorneys through the website and email may not be considered as confidential or privileged. Any results set forth herein are based upon the facts of that particular case and do not represent a promise or guarantee. Please contact a Columbia South Carolina hit and run accident attorney at the Louthian Law Firm, P.A. for a consultation on your particular personal injury matter. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the state of South Carolina. |